Jennifer Goldberg
Audio By Carbonatix
Arizona residents were treated to a cosmic spectacle Sunday evening as the latest SpaceX rocket lit up skies across Arizona. It created an awe-inspiring sight for skywatchers from Tucson to Flagstaff. Hundreds of people shared SpaceX Falcon 9 launch photos of the phenomenon on social media platforms like X and Facebook.
The rocket carrying 28 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California just after 8 p.m. Arizona time. It reached low Earth orbit in about eight minutes, according to the SpaceX website.
Within minutes of liftoff, the rocket’s glowing plume became visible across Arizona. It formed a so-called “jellyfish” that blossomed across the evening sky. Streaks of pink, purple and white lingered for almost an hour after the launch.
After separation, the Falcon 9 booster made a precise landing on the SpaceX droneship “Of Course I Still Love You,” stationed in the Pacific Ocean near the California coast.
SpaceX launches from California have become a familiar sight over Arizona since 2017. They often result in stunning evening light shows visible across the state that amaze residents. The phenomenon typically occurs when Vandenberg launches occur within an hour of sunset. It’s known as the “twilight effect” where sunlight illuminates the rocket’s exhaust trail, producing a glowing streak across the sky.
When SpaceX rocket launches are visible over Arizona, they almost always trigger a flood of photos on social media. Sunday’s liftoff was no exception, as awe-inspired skywatchers and local residents shared their shots on Facebook and other platforms.
Despite powerful storms sweeping through metro Phoenix over the weekend, skies were largely clear on Sunday night. The result was clear views across the Valley. Local residents captured amazing photos of the Falcon 9 rocket’s glowing plume streaking across the evening sky.
Here are stunning photos of Sunday’s SpaceX launch over Arizona that have been shared by local skywatchers on Facebook and X.
